Madras HC pulls up police for lack of social responsibility

Published: Monday, August 25, 2008, 11:56 [IST]

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Chennai, Aug 23 (UNI) ''Failure to register a case under one pretext or the other would only benefit musclemen in a locality who are ever ready to deliver instant justice on the basis of hidden dealings with quid pro quo as the basic principle as well as the essential item of contract,'' Madras High Court has observed.

Disposing of a writ petition filed by a person seeking a direction to the authorities to register a case in respect of the murder of his father in Novermber 2004, Justice K K Sasidaran observed that the new concept of home policing or 'police at your doorstep' as well as launching of mobile police stations would not serve the purpose unless the police change their very outlook and approach issues with a sense of social responsibility.

The Judge said the Supreme Court had time and again called upon the police to register an FIR immediately on receipt of complaint without driving a complainant from pillar to post.

''Under the CrPC, the police had a statutory right to investigate a cognisable offence. The power to investigate the offence was unfettered. The investigastion was subject to supervision by superior officers,'' the Judge said.